How to set your geographic target in Webmaster Tools
The easiest way to ensure Google recognises your blog is targeted towards a specific region is to buy a localised TLD (Top Level Domain). For example, if I was launching a blog about restaurants in London I would register a .co.uk domain so that the blog would list high on Google UK search results.
However, there are times when you will not be using a localised TLD. This may be because the domain you want has already been registered though you may just prefer to register the .com version of the domain for branding purposes. Thankfully, Google lets you tell them what region your blog is targeted towards.
All you need to do is:
- Login to Webmaster Tools
- Click on your blogs profile (add your blog to Webmaster Tools if you haven’t already done so)
- On the left hand side of the page click on ‘Site configuration’ and then ‘Settings’.
- Click on ‘Geographic target’ and choose the Country your blogs region
Google doesn’t only look at the geographic target you set in Webmaster Tools. They also look at the language your blog is written in and the geographic location of incoming links.
Though please note, many webmasters have reported that the tool doesn’t always work. Although I have been aware of this tool for some time, I’ve only had to use it recently for a new mini site I created. Therefore I am not 100% sure if this tool always works as I haven’t tested it myself.
I will let you know how long it takes for my new mini site to get listed in Google UK. I’m particularly curious to see if Google will go with the location you set in Webmaster Tools if there are no incoming links.
Hope you found this post helpful 
Kevin
Written by Kevin Muldoon from Blog Themes ClubPosted on January 2nd, 2010 and filed under Search Engine Optimisation
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7 Responses to “How to set your geographic target in Webmaster Tools”
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Is webmaster tools even useful? Info always seems old or inaccurate. I know for a fact that incoming links is WAY off. So is data about who clicked on my links in search results. Analytics says one thing, webmaster tools says another; mostly it just doesn’t report.
Does any of it have to do wiht the fact that I’ve never set up this geographic target?
Use analytics for tracking stats. Webmaster Tools is mainly for checking that Google is finding your sitemap ok and is indexing your blog with no problems and setting how Google crawls your site.
Geographic target is only relevant if you are targeting a specific region. For example, for bloggingtips I do not target a specific region. However, with a new mini site I created I targeted UK products so I had to make sure it was UK traffic I was getting.
The stats provided by analytics helps a lot for knowing up the change of Traffic trends on our site.Also thanx for the info abt geo targeting. Most of the newbies think that “.com” is only preferrable.Waiting to hear from u the time taken for ur new mini site to get listed.
Yep I agree. Since most bloggers target the majority of people, they really don’t need to set a geotarget for their blogs.
It really depends on the blog. If your blog focuses on something which is only relevant in one country then it would be better to target that region specifically so that the blog lists higher in the local search engines.
A friend of mine told me that he is not using any Google Webmaster tools since it makes his site slower to open, but I have not tried it though.
With this geographic target, I think this will be useful for me if I will create a Filipino or Tagalog blog.
I miss leaving a comment here, Kevin.
Thanks!
I personally don’t use webmaster tools that much. I know it’s there but i don’t find it very useful. I agree with Melvin. Most blogs today target majority of people although there are exceptions. Those who are focusing on one group of people, a specific geographic target may find this very useful.